§ 16. Mr. Denzil DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive the results of the recent tests carried out under the auspices of his Department into the level of polychlorinated biphenyls in Llanelli.
§ Mr. GristHer Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has taken two further samples, one from the playing field and one nearby, to validate the results of its original survey. The results of the samples will be available towards the end of March.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Minister aware that there is considerable concern in my constituency that this matter should be dealt with urgently? We know that one sample provided earlier showed high levels of PCBs in the field adjacent to an infants' school. So that pollution may be removed, will the Government, and the Welsh Office in particular, view sympathetically requests for financial help from the local authorities which are under considerable strain in this matter?
§ Mr. GristUnless the right hon. Gentleman can produce proof of that strain, the work to which he referred will fall within the local authorities' ordinary duties. We want the results of the tests to be available as quickly as possible. Apparently a problem arises because the samples have to be dried before they can be examined; it is more a scientific problem than anything else.